The price of just the aircraft is 91 million Euros for a single seater and about 94 million Euros for a two-seater trainer aircraft. AFP photo

Pune, October 2

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Sunday that India may get Rafale fighter aircraft from France sooner than promised.

“The terms of the deal says 36 months (for France to begin its delivery), but it may come slightly earlier. We have requested them to (deliver it) as fast as possible,” he said.

On September 23, India and France signed the 7.87-billion Euro (approximately Rs 59,000 crore) deal for Rafale fighter jets, equipped with latest missiles and weapon system, as well as several modifications that India has particularly asked for to provide IAF greater “potency” over rival Pakistan.

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The ‘vanilla price’ (the price of just the aircraft) is 91 million Euros for a single seater and about 94 million Euros for a two-seater trainer aircraft.

Parrikar also said that a 12-member committee headed by Lt Gen (Retd) DB Shekatkar and instituted to suggest structural changes in the military for cutting down revenue expenditure would soon submit its report. — PTI